DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Partial Uat of Succaaaful and Popular Playa. Lars* Catalevu* Wr—. 
Prica ISc aach, PeatpaM. Unlaaa DIff arant Pric* la Glva» 



DRAMAS, COMEDIES, 
ENTERTAINMENTS, Etc. 

u. w 





S 8 




1 > 


Attf tl*« Vjatue, * Act* 
lxx» 




A!l a Sf.sf.ilr I ar»« 





I- 



Tican iiukticr, 4 act^ 

. bii. 

A- - v^' '•■ Tbinketh. J .. ... 

(i3c) 9 7 

th< Rainbow, i 

.^. . - , UT* (^>c) 6 14 

iiank Ca>hicr, 4 acts, i bra. 

(-'5c) 8 4 

Black ITeifcr. 3 act*. 2 h. (.''f> •> .^ 
Boy Scout Hero. * ict*. HI ! > 

fJ5r) -. 17 

II — w-Hlc Farin, 4 acta, - v^ 

(i50 7 J 

''"ijali. J act*. 2 hr». 



: Kf-. .1 art% .."J nr». 

I 6 • 

(' ;.•. Town. J acts, 2*4 

' ' . Signal, 2 acta. 2 
]^ :.'■■■ . of tbe r»esc 

?»i hrt f -'r, f, 4 

ubba, J acts. 2^4 hn. 

S S 

uci^ :. i ntanjilcd. i acia. 2 lus. 

(.'Sc) 6 4 

Down in T>:Ttr, 4 arts. C''^ 

hr». ---84 

Drram 

ac-tv f, 13 



Karc nt tJ-.r Witi !a,ip. 3 .>-• ' 

bra I J'r 1 4 4 

Fun OM the i'odunk Liimi' !. 

l«r». IJ50 9 14 

f Hoctown, J actj, 2 

■ :...i:^r) 8 4 



u, r. 

In Plum Valley, 4 acts, 2'i 

hrs f?«cl < 4 

Iron Hand, 4 act», 2 hi«..t-.>i) 5 4 
JayviM<^ lun<tion, IVk hr».(-3c>l4 17 
Kk! I CulUsc. i atU. 

(iSc)lO 9 

K ;!cait"s Content, 3' 

- 4 hrs .(2Sc) 612 

.• Cure, 2 tcu, i¥i hx%. 

. . . .-. 4 5 

■ i». 4 acL&. 2.' - - . '- . 
icksliot, .» .1 

) i 

l.o.jtjr of Kye TJr^, i iir. • -■^c; i j 
Man from IJomeo, 3 acts, 2 

hr5 (2Sc) S 2 

Mi:. • • ■• • - Optr.!. 

M 

) 4 7 
NVw W 3 6 

<)W Mn: J 16 

hrs C.J 8 6 

<>!,! School at Ilicl'ry \hAU'r, 

\% hrs. ..: ..(?V)12 9 

. On the Little Dig HOm, 4 art"*. • 

f 2Vi hrs .....< J5c)l« 4 

Out in the Streets, i acts. 1 hr. 6 4 
... MalcUs. 2 acbl, i'/j h». 

) 4 5 

! irricd Man, 3 arts, 3 

I hrs (r>c^ 4 4 

I Prairie Roae. 4 acts. Z^t h (25c) 7 4 

I RuiTima»?e Sale, 50 min 4 10 

Uomeo, 2 acta, 211 

(:5c)I0 12 

.! : acts. :yi hrs.r-Oc) 5 s 

^ .«:.: 4 artH, 11^ brs. 6 S 

S^ -. 3 arts, 8 hrs. . 6 6 

S«^N .. -• HcHhen. 4o nun. V 

Soutltcro Cuiderella, J <•. 

hr.s 

Star L;:ik;ht. ^ act.*. 2',^ h. 

Tr 1 Go Home? 2 

mIn 7 3 

Th ■ . .lul Tw^ns, 3 acts, 

2 hra. (2.H:) 6 4 

.read of D«stiay, i acta. IVt. 

lu-s. < '^ > lA 

Tunv. the Convict, S ac* 

krs I 

Town Marahal, 4 acti. - ... 

bra. (JSbl 6 i 

TxUJ of Heaita. 4 acta. 2% hrs. 

, ^■r\ /: 1 a 



r>ays. 



hra. i2Jcj 7 10 

Under tbc Laurels..^ acta, 2 hr\ 6 4 
'* 'icn tbc Cii«cu« r.-ii; 

Town, 3 acts, 2^x hr 



T.S.DENISON A COMPANY, PubUsh«rs.1S4W. Randolph St.. Chicago 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 



A ONE ACT PLAY 

For Three Men and Four Women 



RAGNA B. ESKIL 

AUTHOR OF 

'Betty's and Bobby's Christmas" and "Aunt Harriet's Night Out. 




CHICAGO 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY 

Publishers 



Lottie Si:i:s Ir Through 



A^» 



'^V 



CHARACTERS. 

( Xanicd in order of their appearance.) 

Miss Pkiscilla Lon<; A Sf^insu r 

Ebeni-::zi:r Grant -/ Ck'il War Veteran 

Lottie Gribblp: IVho IVorks at the Boarding House 

Mary Servis ) ,, j ^ xr 

[ hea C ross Nurses 

Ruth Tiialby 3 

Lieutenant Dean An Enlisting Officer 

Eugene Beckwith. . .A Nineteen Year Old IVar Objector 



Time — .-/ Winter Night. 



Plack — Miss Priscilla's Kitchen. 



Time of Playing — 'MJbiut Thirty-five Minutes. 



COPYRKIHT. 1018, BY T. S. DENISON & COMPANY. 



<^aD 48936 

FEB I8(yib 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 



COSTUMES. 

Priscilla — A spare woman of sixty years. Dark woolen 
dress with a tight-fitting waist and a white tie at the throat. 
White apron with crocheted lace edge. 

Ebenezer — A man of about seventy, with thin white hair. 
• Wears an old overcoat, a cap with ear-laps, a knitted scarf, 
thick mittens and high buckled overshoes. 

Lottie — A tall, thin girl in the twenties. Slattern dress, 
longer in back than in front. Hair tightly drawn in a knot. 
Thick shawl over her head. 

Ruth and Mary — Red Cross nurses. Warmly dressed. 

Lieutenant Dean — Young man in officer's uniform — • 
medical staff. 

Eugene — Young fellow nineteen years old. Hunting 
costume. 



PROPERTIES. 

Kitten, spectacle case, silver-bowed glasses, black leather 
pouch, large roll of bills and small pile of silver coins and 
a piece of wood for Priscilla ; a cane, old black sock con- 
taining bills, silver money and coppers and large handker- 
chief for Ebenezer; calico bag full of bills and coins for 
Lottie; gun for Eugene; two sealed envelopes containing 
letters for Lieutenant Dean. 



STAGE DIRECTIONS. 

R. means right of stage ; C, center ; R. C, right center ; L., 
left ; up stage, away from footlights ; down stage, near foot- 
lights. The actor is supposed to be facing the audience. 



LOTTH-: SFHS IT THROIGH 



Sum : .-/ kitclicn room that is painstakingly clean and 
very scant in its furnishimjs. I he outside dour is in the 
center rear; another door is in the lower right. A ^vindoiv 
with a white cheesecloth sash curtain is at the left of the 
door. A well-blackened stove, with a 7cater kettle on top 
and a wood-box beside it, is in the tipper right-hand corner. 
Between the door and the store is an old-fashioned 7i'ash- 
stand holding a tin 7i'ash basin, and above it hang a mirror 
and a roller tozcel. Near the window is a rocking chair, 
and a kitchen table covered with a red and white cloth is 
set against the left 7i'all. A lighted high-standard kerosene 
lamp stands on the table. There is a common kitchen chair 
at either side of the table and a chair down at the lower 
right. Over the table is a small shelf with an ordinary 
clock, an ink bottle and a bottle of liniment on it ; under the 
shelf hangs a picture calendar. Over the right door is a 
framed motto. "God Bless Our Home" and a picture of 
some sheep hangs on the right zcall. 

Miss Priscim.a Long is discoirred seated in the rocking- 
chair ii*ith a kitten in her lap. She has her left arm in a 
sling. She is a spare woman of some sixty years, of the 
type that doesn't show its cufe very much. She is dressed 
in a dark woolen dress, with a tight-fitting waist and a white 
tic at the throat, and she wears a white apron with a cro- 
cheted lace edge. Her spectacle case sticks out of her apron 
pocket. After the rise of the curtain she still sits for a fe^c 
vtoments absent-mindedh' stroking the kitten and rockina 
back and forth. 

Priscilla (to the kitten ). Well. Samantha Jane, it looks 
like you and I arc the only ones in the villaije who haven't 
Cjonc to the meeting tonight — and — and I can't be joyful 
over it. (.^he gets up and managing to transfer the kitten 
to her rheumatic arm. she takes down a little black leather 
pouch hidden behind the clmk. In it are a ti-aJ uf bills and 

\ 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 5 

a small pile of silver coins, zvhich she spreads out over the 
table. She takes out her spectacle case and puts on her pair 
of silver-bozved glasses. Slozvly.) No, Samantha Jane, I 
don't see how I can give even a red cent of it. Let's see. 
There's fifty-three dollars in the paper bills, and with the 
tour cents I put there last week there's seven dollars and 
twenty-three cents in real money, as old Ebenezer Grant 
says. But that monument will cost ninety dollars — no less, 
Ritchie Roberts affirms. And let's see— $60.23 from $90 
makes $29.77. That $29.77 I still have to make— and I was 
sixty-three years old last Tuesday. (Shaking her head.) 
No, Samantha Jane, I can't give one mite of it. 
(A knock is heard at the door.) 
Priscilla. Deary me, Samantha Jane. {Hurriedly stuf- 
fing the money in the pouch and putting it hack of the clock 
again. She is quite agitated.) Who can that be? Who 
isn't at the meeting? 

{The rap of a cane on the window is heard.) 
Priscilla (relieved). Oh, it's only Ebenezer Grant. My, 
and out on this cold night! (She hurries to the door and 
opens it.) 

Old Ebenezer Grant hobbles in. He is a man of about 
seventy, zvith thin zvhite hair. He is very much crippled 
with rheumatism and zi'alks very painfully by the aid of a 
cane. He zvears an old overcoat, a cap with ear-laps, a 
knitted scarf, thick mittens and high buckled overshoes. In 
the long ago he was a suitor of Priscilla. 

Priscilla. My, Ebenezer, isn't it too cold for your 
rheumatism ? Here, Samantha Jane, you get so scared when 
folks come — you can go out for awhile. (She puts the kit- 
ten out and hurries to draw out the rocking-chair for Eben- 
ezer.) 

Ebenezer (seating himself and pulling off his mittens 
and cap and placing his cap topside dozvn on the floor). 
I saw your light in the window and so I thought I'd come 
over. Everybody else has gone to the meeting. 

Priscilla. Aren't you going? 



6 LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 

Ebenezer. No. T haven't anything to — give. (There 
a moment's aickxcard faiise.) 

pRisciLLA. Mow's your rheumatism? 

EiiENRZER. Pretty bad — pretty l)a(l. It's crippled me so 
that I've done hardly any whittling this week. The factory 
sent me orders for three dozen spoons, but I haven't been 
able to do more'n about six. 

pRisciLi-A. And flour's ten cents a pound. 

KnENEZER. And beans seventeen cents. 

Pkiscili.a. And my arm's kejH me from doing a mito > 
sewing for four days now. 

Kbenezer. Well, if it weren't for the war pension. 1 
don't know where I'd be. 

Prisciela. .\nd I haven't even got that. (There's a fe:. 
seeonds pause. ^ It seems funny our being the only ones in 
the village who aren't going to the meeting. 

There Is a kiwek at the door, hut before Priscilla eau 
rise from her chair, it is opened and Lottie GRinnLE comes 
in. She is a tall, thin girl. What little beauty of features 
she has doesn't shozc because of her slattern dress, 7chlch 
is longer in back than i)i front, and her hair, Tchich is tightly 
draicn in a knot. She has been constaiilly o^'cncorked and 
has had very little pleasure. She icears a thick shaivl over 
her head. The person playing this part should be careful 
not to oversentimentalize it. Lottie is not conscious that 
she is mistreated, or that she is doing a big thing in giving 
her money to her country. 

Lottie. It's only mo. Miss Priscilla. T — T seed the light 
in your window, so I knowed you wasn't goin' to the meet in' 
neither. 

Prisciela (in kindly tone, for in her meager 7i'ay shr 
has mothered Lottie a little). Rut. Lottie, why aren't you 
going? Surely Mis' Wright would let vou otT' for a thing 
like this. 

Lottie (nen'ously). Ves'm — she let me ofT all right — 
she was even real kind about it — but — I — I — ain't got 
nothin' to give — and everybody's givin* — 

Pkisi ILEA. I — I haven't anything to give, cither. 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 7 

Ebenezer (to Lottie). But, Lottie, no one would expect 
you to give anything. {With a laugh.) I expect they know 
that Mis' Wright doesn't pay you a milHonaire's wages. 

Lottie. That ain't it. 

{There's a sharp knock at the door, follozved instantly by 
the turning of the knob, and through the half-opened door 
RuTH^s cheery voice calls out) — 

Ruth, {off stage). How are you, Miss Priscilla? 

Then the door is thrust wide open and in come Red Cross 
nurses, Ruth Thalby and Mary Servis, and Lieutenant 
Charles Dean of the medical staff. All three have grozvn 
up in the village and all three are zvarmly dressed. When 
Ebenezer sees the officer's uniform he rises to salute, but 
Lieutenant Dean motions to him to sit down. 

Ruth. Oh, Miss Priscilla, excuse us for coming in this 
way, but I was afraid when I saw your light that you must 
be sick, or else you would be at the meeting. We've just 
come from Crosby Junction. 

Ebenezer. Crosby Junction^ — that's some piece. But 
then I suppose you drove in. 

Lieut. Dean. No, we missed the train. You know 
we've been to a Red Cross meeting there, too, and since it 
was such a nice moonlight night, we concluded we'd walk. 
It's only four miles. 

Priscilla {hospitably). Won't you sit down? 

Ruth. Oh, we can't. We're going over to the meeting. 
We're later than we expected to be. 

Mary. But you are all coming, aren't you? Everybody 
else is there. 

Priscilla. I — I can't. 

Lieut. Dean {to Ebenezer). You surely are coming — 
when you've come this far. 

Ebenezer. No — I — I can't. 

Ruth {to Lottie). But you can come. 

Lottie {miserably). No — I — I can't neither. 

Mary {cordially). Oh, but you must. There will be 
music and singing and moving pictures of the battle field. 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 

Lottie (shaking her head). T — T can't. (In scarcely 
audible tone). I — I ain't got nothin' to give. 

KUTii. Well, come anyway, Lottie. You'll enjoy yuur- 
self. And you know every one doesn't have to give niont 
— you can offer to knit or something like that — 

Lottie. I've heen thinkin' about that — hut I can't get n 
time. I get up at five o'clock ev'ry mornin', and tlicn Mi 
Wright gener'ly fnuls sonielhin' for me to do 'til nine < 
half-past nine at night, and then I — I just fall to sleep. 1 
know I shouldn't, hut I — I just can't hel|) it. 

Mary { f'ityinyly). Well, I should think you would fall 
asleep. Why no one ought to expect you to do anything for 
the Red Cross. 

Ruth. Well, hardly. 

Lottie. It ain't right that I don't — just the same. 

pRisciLL.v (her conscience troubling her). And I — 1 
can't do any knitting or sewing, either, for when my rheu- 
matism let's me work, I have to sew for my living. 

Ruth (laughing). Why, Miss Priscilla, I think you 
gave all these hoys, who are now going to war, enough 
cookies when they were small, and music lessons without 
having to give things to them now. 

Priscilla (shaking her head). But that isn't now. 

Ebenkzer. .\nd I — I can't do anything, either. The 
rheumatism's got hold of me, too. 

Lii:uT. Dkax (respectfully). I guess your serving in th< 
Rebellion, Mr. Grant, shows that you've done your duty i 
your country. 

Ebenezer. One's duty to his country is never don- 
Charley Ijoy. 

Ruth (before turning to go). WcMi't you come anywa\ 
You'll like the music and the singing — and everybody 
there. (All three shake their heads.) 

Prlscilla. No, thank you : but I— T can't go. 

Ruth. Pm sorry. (To Mary and Likut. Dean.) Well. 
I suppose we'll have to be going on. or they'll wonder wha* 
become of us. (JVith cheery good-byes they go out, closi) 
the door behind them, and in tlw silence of the room ///< 
voices are heard outside on the clear air.) 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 9 

Priscilla (going to the wood-box and taking out a stick 
of ivood, zMcJi she puts in the stove). ]\Iy, it's cold, isn't 
it?- {To Lottie.) Draw up that chair, Lottie, and sit down. 
(Lottie mechanically draws the chair that's in the lower 
right-hand corner nearer to the stove and sits down. Miss 
Priscilla seats herself at the table. There is another slight 
pause.) 

Ebenezer (heavily). I suppose we three are the village 
slackers. 

Priscilla (quickly). Not you, Ebenezer. You've al- 
ready offered your life for your country once. 

Ebenezer. That doesn't relieve me now. 

Priscilla. Still it seems as if there were so many people 
in the country who could afford to give that our help wasn't 
needed. 

Lottie (cogitating to herself). Yes, but that don't make 
it right for me not to give. 

Ebenezer (kindly). Yes, but, Lottie, you haven't any- 
thing to give — neither time nor money, so you can't give 
anything. 

Priscilla. Of course you can't give anything, Lottie. 

Lottie (zvith a little cry). Oh, it ain't right for me to 
let you say I ain't got no money. I have money. Here, see. 
(She pulls out a calico bag from inside her waist, and drop- 
ping to the floor she opens the string and spreads out before 
the astonished gaze of Ebenezer and Priscilla a tumbled 
mass of bills and coins.) 

Ebenezer and Priscilla. Lottie ! 

Lottie (rocking back and forth on the floor in great de- 
jection). I have got the money. 

Priscilla (a stern note in her voice). Lottie Gribble, 
where did you get all that money? 

Lottie. Mis' Wright give it to me. 

Priscilla (a little more sternly). When did Mis' ^^'right 
give you all that money, Lottie? 

Lottie. Why, it's all the wages she's paid me, ma'am, 
all the time I've been workin' for her. 

Ebenezer (in awestruck tone). How much is it, Lottie? 



10 LOTTIE SEKS IT THROUGH 

LoTTii:. Xinc hundred and two dollars. {She continues 
to rock back and forth.) 

Priscilla {less sternly, but still icanting more of or. 
explanation). Hut how could you save that much, Lottir, 
on the small wa^cs Mis' Wright paid you? 

LoTTiK {simply). Vou sec, she paid me two dollars a 
week, and I could a* saved more only I had to huy things 
!() wear, and then I had to spend some for church money 
md some little presents I sent to Frankie. And when I 
•irst went to work for Mis' Wright I did spend some for 
andy and such truck; but I was only young, then, and 
I didn't know no heltcr. 

Ebknkzkr. Lottie, how long have vou been working for 
Mis' Wright? 

Lottie {ivith an unconscious siffh). Fourteen years now 
next month — ever since she took me from the orphan 
asylum. 

Pkiscili.a. What have you been saving that money for, 
Lottie? 

LoTTiK {the spirit of dejection coming 07'er her again). 
Vou remember my telling you about my brother Frankie? 

Priscilla {nods her head. To Ehexkzkr). He's in the 
same orphan asylum where she was. 

LoTTiK. Pve been savin' it for him. 

Priscilla. What's he going to do with it !* 

Lottie. Well, you see Pm older'n he is. When Mi ' 
Wright took me from the asylum, I was fourteen and he 
was only five — and he cried when I went. W'qW, ma'am, a 
orphan asylum don't give no one a chanct — leastaways a 
man, for if he's goin' to amount to somethin' he's got to 
have a college edication. I didn't know nothin' about a 
college edication when I was in the asyhmi. but when I left 
and Frankie stood cryin' there, I made up my mind I was 
goin' to give him a chanct, and then soon after I come here. 
a professor who was to Mis' Wright's boardin' house told 
mc about the college, and he said the only chanct a man 
had to get on was to have a college edication, and he said 
if Frankie had one thousand dollars, if he was real careful 
in spendin* it, he could go through college — and so I been 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 11 

savin' it for him — and I thought maybe he could go next 
year. 

Ebenezer (after clearing his throat). Where is he now, 
Lottie? 

Lottie. He's still to the orphan asylum. 'Course he's 
too big to be a reg'lar inmate — he's nineteen, you know — ■ 
but when I wrote 'em about the college edication, they been 
letting him work at the asylum for his board and then go 
to the high school in town. 

Priscilla (huskily). Well, Lottie, there aren't many 
girls who would do what you've done. 

Lottie (not hearing her). And if I took one penny of 
the money to give to the country, I wouldn't have the thou- 
sand dollars in time for him to go to college next year. 

Priscilla. It does cost an awful sum to go to college. 

Ebenezer (uneasily) . Lottie, there are ever and ever so 
many people who can give money to the government easily. 
I don't see why we should have to do it. 

Lottie. It ain't right just the same. 

Ebenezer (his conscience forcing him to reveal his secret 
in spite of himself). I have some money, too. (He pulls 
out from, inside ^ his vest an old black sock, and laying his 
handkerchief across his knees he tremblingly pours out a col- 
lection of bills and silver money and coppers. Lottie and 
Priscilla gace at him fascinated. He speaks haltingly.) 
I — I've been saving it for a wheel chair. There's a spot 
down on the river I've wanted to see again before I die, I 
used to go there real often when I could walk. So I thought 
I would buy myself a wheel chair — you know I can't pos- 
sibly walk there — and I've been saving up now for ten years. 
You see what little money I had put aside when I couldn't 
teach the village school any longer, I used up trying to get 
cured — and since I've been making my living whittling 
things for the wooden factory, I've only been able to save 
a penny now and a penny then. 

Priscilla. Couldn't some one take you there? 

Ebenezer. I suppose so, if I asked, but you know I'm 
independent and (a little sheepishly) it's a bit of sentiment, 
too. I want to go there alone. 



12 LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 

pRisciLLA (s\'nif>athctically, after a f^ausc). How nnicli 
more do you need, l''l)eiiezer? 

I'jiKNKZKR. The catalogue I got said the kind lliat would 
he strong enough to go on grass roads would cost $48.73, 
and I've figured up the freiglit would he sixty cents extra. 
I've got $46.23. 

Priscilla. Oh, Ebenezer, then it won't take you so long 
before you get it. 

Ebenezer (sighing heavily). No, it won't take so long 
now. 

Lottie. I know how you feel, Mr. Grant. If there hadn't 
heen no war, you'd he glad, and now you don't think you 
ought to. It's — it's like the college edication. 

Priscilla ( uitahle to keep her secret any hunger. Shame- 
facedly). I've been saving, too, (SJie takes her black 
leather bag from behind the clock and spreads its contents 
out on the table.) And — and I haven't enough either. 

Erknezer (surprised). What are you saving for, Pris- 
cilla? 

Priscilla. A tombstone. 

Lottie. A tombstone, Miss Priscilla! 

Priscilla (slozcly). Vou see I'm the only one of my 
family left out here. The rest of them are all in the east — 
the name of our family is pretty well known there. And 
when father and mother were sick I used up all the money 
I had earned with my music teaching, so when they died 
I couldn't afford anything to mark their graves. And now, 
when I die. unless I can buy a tombstone, there won't be 
anything left of our family name. 

EiiENEZER (nodding), l understand — I understand. 

Priscilla (after a pause). It isn't because we don't ^canf 
to give. 

Ebenezer. No. it's because we can't. 

Lottie (gloomily). But it ain't right. 

There's a sharp knock with the butt of a gun on the door, 
and before any of the three can cren begin to hide his or 
her money, Euc.kne Beckwith opens the door and walks 
in. ffe is nineteen years old and is dressed in a hunting cos- 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 13 

tume. He glories in doing 'just the opposite of zvhat other 
people do, and as the village has been quite public-spirited 
since the zvar broke out, he perversely has taken the tack 
of being an objector. He is the only son of the village 
druggist. He is blinded by the lamplight for a fezv seconds. 

Lottie (disgustedly, for Eugene is not a favorite of hers 
— lie is a great tease). It's Eugene! 

Eugene (easily). You'll let me stay here, Miss Priscilla, 
won't you? There was so much talk about this meeting 
tonight, it made me so sick I went off to the woods, and 
now when I come back I find my house locked up, and it's 
either up to me to break in, go to the meeting, or to the 
only other light in town, and I .chose to come here. (He 
notices the money for the first time.) What the — ! Have 
you people broken into the federal reserve bank? 

Priscilla (ashamed, and yet zinth dignity). Mr. Grant 
is saving that money for a wheel chair so he can see the river 
again before he dies. Lottie there is saving her money to 
give her brother, who is at the orphan asylum, a college 
education, and I — I am saving mine for a tombstone, so 
when I die the family name will still be left. (She begins 
gathering her money up and Ebenezer and Lottie do like- 
wise. ) 

Eugene (nonplussed for a second, for he has a certain 
respect for Priscilla and Ebenezer, turns on Lottie, to 
zvJioju he dares give banter). My, I almost thought for a 
second you were going to give it to the Red Cross. 

Lottie (a shadow crossing her face). No, we ain't got 
nothin' to give. 

Eugene (seating himself in the chair Lottie vacated to 
sit on the floor) . H'ni, ' you talk as though that were a 
calamity, when it proves you're the only sensible people in 
town. 

Ebenezer (glad of any argument to help prop his con- 
science). Well, it does seem more sensible for us to get 
these things than to. give to the country. 

Priscilla. There are others who can give to the country. 

Lottie. But it ain't right — us not givin'. 



14 LOTTIE SKRS IT THROUGH 

Eugene (/o LoTTii:). Iliiini)!i! Ain't rii,Hit ! W'liy shouM 
you give to your country r 

Lottie. Ain't you givin' notliin*? 

El'GENE (liyhtly). Mc? I should say not! And (mean 
imjly) I'm not actinia like a funeral over it either. 

Lottie {bc^tciUicrcd). Are you (jUid you ain't j^ivin'? 

Eugene {hcUigcrciUly). Why should I give? I don't 
want this war. 

Lottie. It's your country needs it — and it don't make no 
difference if you want the war or don't. 

Eugene {\nth the cruelty of youth). Well, why don't 
you give some of that money there, then? ^'ou seem to ha\ 
enough of it. 

(Lottie is unable to aus^i^er and in her despair hides /;< 
face in her hands.) 

Priscilla (gently). I told you, 'Gene, Lottie is saving 
to get one thousand dollars so that her hrother can go to 
college. 

Eugene. One thousand dollars! Lottie Cjrihhlc, have 
you got a thousand dollars there? 

Lottie (miserably shaking her head). Xo — just niP' 
hundred and two dollars. 

Eugene. Nine hundred and two dollars! And you're 
going to give that to your hrother to go to college, and tlun 
you want to give to your country, too ! Holy Gee ! 

Lottie. It ain't right — my not givin'. 

Eugene (beginning to feel uncomfortable and making a 
desperate effort not to be). Well, if it will ease your mind 
any, my pa and ma are over at the meeting — giving! 

Lottie (rising to her feet). But that ain't you! 

Eugene. It isn't! Ma's going to cut down on the caki - 
she hakes and pa won't give me a new rit1e on account oi 
it — and you say I'm not giving! 

Priscilla. Eugene! 

EnENEZER (getting a little angry). In my day young men 
of your age enlisted. 

I-OTTIE. The other hoys is doin' somethin'. 

Eugene (amr.vering Lottie). Yes, that smart-aleck . 
Charley Dean, just because he's a lieutenant now, has been 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 15 

after me to enlist because I'm not old enough to be drafted. 
Why, just this morning he told me he had one place left 
and he was waiting for me to take it. But (zvith a laugh) 
I guess he'll keep on waiting. 

Ebenezer (in contempt). Are you afraid? 

Eugene (stung). All the people who know me, sir, will 
tell you I'm not the afraid kind. (Lamely excusing him- 
self.) But because every one else is howling for this war, 
I don't see why that makes it necessary for me to do the 
same. 

Priscilla, You always were contrary, 'Gene. 

Lottie. But your country needs you now. 

Eugene (getting up and turning on her). What has my 
country done for me? What has your country done for 
you? Answer me that! (Lottie looks' at him wide-eyed.) 
You slave from early morning to late at night — and never 
have any fun. What's your country giving to you? 

Lottie (retrospectively). No — I ain't had it soft — never 
— and I ain't had much fun. 

Eugene (triumphantly) . Well, then, tell me, what have 
you got to be so crazy over your country for ? Just tell me ! 
What's your country given you? 

Lottie (sloivly). Jt's given me just what it's given you 
— and everybody else who's in it. It's given us — oh, I can't 
say all what's in me — ^but it's given us — why the place where 
we was born, the songs we used to sing in school, the chanct 
to be what we want to be — I ain't got it, but my brother has 
— it's given us liberty — and I — I could hug it to me — and 
I could die for it! 

Eugene (moved in spite of himself — turning aside — 
weakly). Humph! 

Ebenezer (admiringly). You should have been a man, 
Lottie. 

Lottie (recalled to her dilemma — in great dejection). 
And I ain't givin' my country nothin'. And the Gribbles 
have always give — I suppose you think from the way I look 
my family ain't much — and I guess they never had much 
money or much position — but my great; great grandpa was 
in the Revolution, my great grandpa was in another war 



10 LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 

apainst the EnjjUsh, my grandpa was in the Civil War — 
same's Mr. Grant — and my own pa was killed in the Span- 
ish-American War. They was all only common soldiers, 
my ma said, hnt they jjive! Now, there's only Frankie and 
me — and I'm — fallin* down on my country. 

There is a eheerfitl kttoek at the door as it is being opened 
and Lieutenant Dean and Nurses Mary and Ruth conii 
in. EnENEZER tries to struggle to his feet in salute, hid 
Lieutenant Dean stops him icith a kindly gesture. 

Lieut. Dean. On our way from the meetin^^ we stopped 
with Postmaster Scott, and there was this ])aper for yun. 
Miss Priscilla, and this letter for Lottie {he hands then 
over) and so we thoujijht we would take them alonj^. 

Lottie. A letter for mc! 

Priscilla {examining her paper). Oh, it's just this pat- 
ent medicine thiiief. hut thank you, Charles. (Rising and 
coming foulard Lottie.) A letter, Lottie! Why. from 
whom can that he? (They turn it orrr a;/</ try to make out 
the post-mark.) 

Lieut. Dean (to Eugene). \nu weren't at the meetini:. 
luiijene. 

AL\RV. No, for shame, Euiijene ! 

Ruth. If you had been there, even you would have been 
stirred. 

EiciENE (still uncomfortable from Lottie's .v/rrr/i). So' 

Lieut. Dean. Oh, luij^ene will join us yet! 

Eur.ENE (attempting sarcasm). Will he? 

EnENEZER (longingly). I suppose the band played all the 
old tunes. (At his question both Priscilla and Lottie turn 
to hear the ans^cer.) 

Lieut. Dean (enthusiastically). I should say they did 
And people went wild. They joined in and sanp^ until 1 
tlioupht the roof would come ofT. C^h, it was wonderful' 
And the band's j^oinp to play when they march back, toe 
Maybe you'll hear it then. 

Lottie (the words forced out of her). I suppose ever\ 
body give somethin', too — 

Marv (unconscious of the hurt she is inflicting on the 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 17 

three non-givers) . Oh, yes, everybody. Why, the money 
and the offers to help just poured in! I never saw anything 
hke it. Even that old miser Stebbins gave a hundred dol- 
lars, and the Widow Black insisted on giving a dollar, al- 
though, I don't see how she could afford to do it. Oh, it was 
marvelous the willingness people showed. 

Lottie {dismally). Just us — just us — we're the slackers. 
(Ebenezer and Priscilla avert their heads. Even Eu- 
gene can find no retort. He tries to zvhistle to himself.) 

Mary {trying to make Lottie feel better). Why, non- 
sense, Lottie. You mustn't feel that way. Why, you may 
be able to give something a little later on. 

Lottie {shaking her head). But that ain't now. 

Ruth {tactfully coming to the rescue). You haven't 
read your letter, Lottie. 

Priscilla {glad of a pretext to change the subject). 
Whom's it from? 

Lottie. I can't make out — Norfolk, the post-mark says. 
Why, I don't know no one there — Frank's in Portville. Still, 
it looks like his handwritin', too. But I don't see what he 
should do there. 

Priscilla. Open it and see. 

{All are interested as Lottie opens the envelope and 
glances dozvn at the signature.) 

Lottie {excited). It's from Frank! But what's he doin' 
in Norfolk? {She laboriously tries to spell out the letter.) 

Priscilla {impatient) . But what does he say, Lottie? 

Lottie. I don't know yet. I — I can't read very fast. 

Priscilla {fumbling for her glasses). Where are my 
glasses? Let me help you, Lottie. 

Ruth. My eyes are strong. Let me read it. (Lottie 
hands the letter over to her and Ruth reads.) Dear Lottie : 
This letter will surprise you, but I enhsted today. I couldn't 
stand waiting to be old enough for the draft, and not doing 
anything for my country. The Gribbles always have served. 
I hope you don't mind. Frank. 

Priscilla, Ruth and Mary {sympathetically). Oh, 
Lottie ! 



18 LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 

LoTTiK (a look of exaltation commcj over her face). I 
never tliouglit of his doin' lliat ! 1 never thonglit of him 
beinjj jjruwn np. Oh, I'm glad — I'm glad. lie ain't n«' 
slacker ! 

EuGENK {cleariiKj his throat). Well, i\07c you're givir 
your countr)' sonielhing. 

LoTTiK (shaking her head). I ain't give Frankie. IK 
give hisself — I didn't tell him to go. (Suddenly reinenibe, 
inij her bag of money.) I've got this and he don't need it 
now! (Her faee is glorified.) And I can give it to my 
country ! Here ! {She presses the bag into Ruth's hands.) 
And I ain't a slacker no longer, neither. The Grihhlcs — 
I)oth of *em — has give! 

pRisciLLA and Ebknkzkr. Oh, Lottie, that's too much! 

Ruth {ivonderingly). What — what is this? 

LoTTiR. It's money. 

Ruth (feeling the bag). Why, it feels like an awful lot. 

Eugene (elearing his throat again). It's nine hundred 
and two dollars. 

Priscill.\ (explaining). She was saving it for her broth- 
er's college education. 

Ruth (protestingly). Why, Lottie, hut you nuistn't give 
all of it. 

Lottie (shaking her head). It's for my country. 

Mary. But you need it for yourself. If 'you want to, 
give — say ten dollars of it — ( Lotthc shakes her head) or 
give one hundred dollars. Old man Stehbins didn't give 
more than that, and he's got money to burn. (Lottie sti'! 
shakes her head.) 

Ruth. Rut think, Lottie; with this money you could buy 
yourself some pretty clothes — and you wouldn't need to 
work so hard — 

Lieut. Dean (eutting in). .\nd you know your country 
doesn't ask you to give everything you've got — only a little 
part of it — that's all it needs. 

Lottie (unmoved by their pleadings). Xo, I've got to 
give all of it. I come pretty near not givin' nothin', and 
now, to make up, I've got to give all. .And (tci/// a trans- 
figuring smile) it's so much easier. (There is a slight pause 



LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 19 

as Ruth, Mary and Lieut. Dean look at each other, puz- 
zled hozv to refuse.) 

Priscilla (taking up her bag from the table and handing 
it to Ruth). And here's some money I was saving for a 
tombstone. {Dryly.) I guess my family will be better re- 
membered by its deeds than its stone, and {silencing Ruth''s 
protest zvith a gesture), as Lottie says, it's much easier. 
I've felt like a criminal. 

Ebenezer {tottering to his feet and handing over his 
sock. His face has lost its strained look). And here's some 
money I was saving for a wheel chair. I — I guess remem- 
bering the river is pretty nearly as good as seeing it — and — 
an old soldier doesn't enjoy being a slacker. 

Ruth. Why — why — I don't understand. {She gazes in 
perplexity from one to the other). 

Eugene {gruffly, stepping forzvard). It's — it's all right 
— what they're doing, Ruth. They're — they're getting square 
with their consciences — and — and — (raising his hand in sa- 
lute and straightening up) Lieutenant Dean, if — if that en- 
listment is still open, why — I'll come around as soon as the 
office is open. 

Lieut. Dean (shaking hands zvith Eugene). I knew you 
were a man, when you once got over your notion. (To the 
others, gently but decisively.) But, Lottie, and you, Mr. 
Grant, and Miss Priscilla, I think I can realize something 
of what the saving of this mone}^ has meant to you. You 
know there is a limit to the amount the country can receive 
from you, if there is no limit to the amount you zi'ant to 
give. In this I am sure that Mary and Ruth agree with me. 
(Ruth and Mary nod their heads and Ruth puts her arm 
around Lottie.) So, even though we know the giving of 
just a little means a good deal of sacrifice, we shall be most 
glad to accept part of your money, but not all. (Shaking 
his head smilingly at Lottie, zvho is about to protest.) No, 
Lottie, you would be making your country do a wrong if 
you made it take all that money now when it is not yet in 
desperate straits. You would not make it do a wrong, would 
you ? 

Lottie (zvondcringly) . No — 



20 LOTTIE SEES IT THROUGH 

Ebenezkr (sIo7c1\). The Liculcnant's right, Lottie. 

pRisciLLA. Yes, I see your point, Charles. 

Ruth (to Lottie. 7cIw is still not quite convinced). Then 
you can give to the Red Cross anotlicr time, if you want — 
and {icarmly) nicanwliile, the Red Cross will see 'that it* 
country does more for you. 

Lottie (ignoring/ the last part of Rith's speech). You 
will be sure to ask me when you need money attain? 

Ruth. We surely will, Lottie. 

{The baud playing ''The Star-Spauf/lrd lUnuirr" is liar. 
faintly around the corner.) 

Lottie (clasping her hands). Oh, do you hear! It's t' 
national song! 

(The band turns the corner and the anthem can he heard 
plainly. With one accord, all in an attitude of deep re^'cr- 
ence. join in singing the zcords. Of course the audience 
also rise.) 

Curtain. 



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For Reform, 20 min 4 

Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min ..21 
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Hey, Rube! IS min 1 

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One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m. 2 
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Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 

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Special Sale, 15 min 2 

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